Atlanta came out of the first six games of the season, considered by myself and many others to be a brutal opening stretch, at 3-3. They had just beaten a tough 49ers team in impressive fashion, seemed to be finding their footing on defense and through the air, and had a +10 point differential. Pieces were written, here and elsewhere, about the team’s rushing renaissance and their resilience, and it seemed as though the Falcons might not just exceed expectations but smash them to pieces.
Fast forward and that has not happened. The Falcons are 2-4 since their 3-3 start, including one borderline miraculous win where the Panthers squandered two clear-cut opportunities to win, and have seen their defense and offense sag over that span.